Obituary for Jerome Williamson
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Meeting ID: 862 1283 3890
Passcode: Jerome
HIS STORY
Jerome Williamson was born in Washington, DC, on May 12, 1956, to the late Walter and Rosetta Williamson. He was the eldest of two children born to that union.
Jerome was educated and graduated with honors from McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C. He applied to several colleges and universities and received scholarships from Georgetown, George Washington, American, Howard, Bowie State Universities, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, to name a few. He eventually selected the HBCU Bowie State University (BSU) because of their offered programs and financial package. He graduated in 1979 Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He ranked in the top 1% of his graduating class and indoctrinated into several national honor societies. Year after year, Jerome was indoctrinated into Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Black America for his stellar academics. Even with his insurmountable accomplishments, he rarely felt challenged, and was always striving for greater knowledge.
Because of his leadership skills and exemplary character, during his senior year at Bowie, the National Oceanography and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corp recruited him for their Officer’s Training Program. As a condition of acceptance into the program, he was required to enroll into a compressed engineer program at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). With their preselection of required coursework, he was finally challenged and excelled with flying colors. That summer after graduation from UMCP, he reported to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Greenwich Village, NY, to become a nautical/maritime officer with emphasis on ship handling, marine seamanship, sea navigation, and more importantly, scientific oceanography research. He soon realized the Commander’s duties required 9 out of 20 years at sea and it was something he had to reconsider. After completion of his training and speaking with the right officers about transitioning from the military, he was offered a civilian position in NOAA, as an Aeronautical Charting Reviewer. He commenced his 40 years of Federal Service in 2019.
Jerome met Charlene in 1976 at BSU, and after dating for 7 years, they married on July 10, 1983, in Bermuda. We were blessed with two beautiful children, Jared and Lauren.
Jerome’s favorite pastime was standing over the stove stewing a delectable meal. And not just your traditional meat and potatoes, but a gourmet meal. He was a self-taught professional chef and felt he needed the tools of the trade to complete his desired menu. You could find Jerome at the local grocer several times a week perusing produce and the butcher shop. He liked his ingredients fresh! Whenever he found someone that shared his love for satisfying a diverse palette, he would talk their ear off about his latest recipe or newly discovered spice.
He enjoyed analyzing your habits and could imitate your mannerisms to perfection. Once he met you, in his demented mind, he could find a fitting nickname for you. From that moment on,
you were only affectionately called by his chosen moniker. He should have been a comedian because he could make an entire room roar with laughter within minutes of entering.
Sadly, on January 29, 2023, Jerome passed peacefully, at home, at the age of 66. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Miranda. He is survived by his wife, Charlene, two children, Jared, and Lauren (Daniel), his granddaughter, Londyn; his niece, Nikita Williamson, Aunts: Arsonia Mann, Hattie Stroman, Johnny Mae McCrorey, Gwyneth Lightbourne, Uncle: Willard Ed, and a host of relatives and special friends.
OR
enter this ID and Passcode into your zoom application:
Meeting ID: 862 1283 3890
Passcode: Jerome
HIS STORY
Jerome Williamson was born in Washington, DC, on May 12, 1956, to the late Walter and Rosetta Williamson. He was the eldest of two children born to that union.
Jerome was educated and graduated with honors from McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C. He applied to several colleges and universities and received scholarships from Georgetown, George Washington, American, Howard, Bowie State Universities, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, to name a few. He eventually selected the HBCU Bowie State University (BSU) because of their offered programs and financial package. He graduated in 1979 Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He ranked in the top 1% of his graduating class and indoctrinated into several national honor societies. Year after year, Jerome was indoctrinated into Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Black America for his stellar academics. Even with his insurmountable accomplishments, he rarely felt challenged, and was always striving for greater knowledge.
Because of his leadership skills and exemplary character, during his senior year at Bowie, the National Oceanography and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corp recruited him for their Officer’s Training Program. As a condition of acceptance into the program, he was required to enroll into a compressed engineer program at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). With their preselection of required coursework, he was finally challenged and excelled with flying colors. That summer after graduation from UMCP, he reported to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Greenwich Village, NY, to become a nautical/maritime officer with emphasis on ship handling, marine seamanship, sea navigation, and more importantly, scientific oceanography research. He soon realized the Commander’s duties required 9 out of 20 years at sea and it was something he had to reconsider. After completion of his training and speaking with the right officers about transitioning from the military, he was offered a civilian position in NOAA, as an Aeronautical Charting Reviewer. He commenced his 40 years of Federal Service in 2019.
Jerome met Charlene in 1976 at BSU, and after dating for 7 years, they married on July 10, 1983, in Bermuda. We were blessed with two beautiful children, Jared and Lauren.
Jerome’s favorite pastime was standing over the stove stewing a delectable meal. And not just your traditional meat and potatoes, but a gourmet meal. He was a self-taught professional chef and felt he needed the tools of the trade to complete his desired menu. You could find Jerome at the local grocer several times a week perusing produce and the butcher shop. He liked his ingredients fresh! Whenever he found someone that shared his love for satisfying a diverse palette, he would talk their ear off about his latest recipe or newly discovered spice.
He enjoyed analyzing your habits and could imitate your mannerisms to perfection. Once he met you, in his demented mind, he could find a fitting nickname for you. From that moment on,
you were only affectionately called by his chosen moniker. He should have been a comedian because he could make an entire room roar with laughter within minutes of entering.
Sadly, on January 29, 2023, Jerome passed peacefully, at home, at the age of 66. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Miranda. He is survived by his wife, Charlene, two children, Jared, and Lauren (Daniel), his granddaughter, Londyn; his niece, Nikita Williamson, Aunts: Arsonia Mann, Hattie Stroman, Johnny Mae McCrorey, Gwyneth Lightbourne, Uncle: Willard Ed, and a host of relatives and special friends.